Toothbrush Handle Loop

ABSTRACT

The toothbrush handle loop is a loop attached to the handle of a toothbrush which enables the toothbrush to be hung perpendicular to the ground in open air, toothbrush handle up and toothbrush head down. The toothbrush handle loop also allows identifying features selected by the toothbrush user to be added to the loop for identification or ornamentation.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A standard toothbrush consists of a head containing clustered bristles, which is where the toothpaste is applied. There is also a handle attached to the toothbrush head which the user grasps to brush the teeth. Typically the user brushes their teeth and then rinses the toothbrush to remove the toothpaste and other debris, and then stores the toothbrush until the next use.

There is a large body of literature on toothbrush contamination. A study by NSF International (f/Ida National Sanitation Foundation) found that toothbrush holders are the third-most germ-contaminated household item (behind dish sponges and kitchen sinks). Most articles in this area state that toothbrushes may play a significant role in disease transmission and increase the risk of infection since they can serve as a growth area and transfer device for microorganisms originating either from the user or the environment. These studies found that there is significant bacteria and virus retention and survival on toothbrushes after use.

The method used to dry and store the toothbrush after use is a pivotal factor in the growth and survival rate of microorganisms. The studies have determined that the faster the toothbrush dries and the less moisture that is retained will result in a lower growth and survival rate for bacteria.

Most current storage options for a toothbrush consist of standing a toothbrush upright in a container with the toothbrush head pointed up, either alone or together with toothbrushes used by other individuals. This method of storage creates several problems, as follows:

-   -   Most people rinse their toothbrush head after use. When the         toothbrush is placed in an upright position (toothbrush head up)         in a cup or other storage holder while still wet, the dirty         water containing toothpaste, saliva, food debris, and bacteria         from the user runs down the handle of the toothbrush. This         contaminated water dries on the handle before running off         completely, leaving behind a thin film of the dirty water. This         mixture of water and food particles creates the perfect growth         medium for bacteria. When the user picks up this toothbrush to         use it again, it is likely he or she will rinse only the         toothbrush head, not the handle of the toothbrush. When the         toothbrush handle gets wet again either with water or saliva,         the preexisting dirty coating becomes liquid once again, flowing         into and out of the user's mouth while brushing. The effect         becomes cumulative after each use.     -   Most storage options in which the toothbrush is stored upright         require the toothbrush to be leaned at a slight angle (e.g. when         a toothbrush is stored in a cup, it is leaned against the side         of the container, with the handle not directly perpendicular to         the bottom). The angled slope of the toothbrush means the water         does not flow off the toothbrush as quickly as it would if the         toothbrush was perpendicular, and therefore the dirty water         dries on the toothbrush as opposed to flowing off the         toothbrush. Again, this creates a favorable breeding ground for         bacteria.     -   The container itself also creates a growth area for bacteria due         to standing water at the bottom and on the sides of the         container which stays in contact with the toothbrush handle if         stored with the toothbrush head facing up. The container blocks         the flow of air to the toothbrush, causing it to dry much         slower. If there is more than one toothbrush in the holder, it         is easy for the contaminated water to come in contact with other         users' toothbrushes and vice-versa.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The toothbrush handle loop consists of a loop inserted in the handle of a toothbrush. The loop is used to hang or suspend the toothbrush upside down in the open air (i.e. toothbrush head at the lowest point and perpendicular to the ground) from any location with a protrusion suitably sized to fit within the loop. Such location might include a peg in a specially designed toothbrush holder manufactured by vendors to accommodate the loop design, or something specifically available in the situation, like a tree branch while camping, a hook or towel rack in a hotel room, etc.

By hanging the toothbrush upside down and directly perpendicular to the ground, the toothbrush will dry quicker and provide a less favorable breeding ground for bacteria and other microorganisms. It is also easier to separate the toothbrush from other toothbrushes, dirty surfaces, etc. when the toothbrush can be suspended in mid-air.

After testing this method of storing the toothbrush, the toothbrush head and handle are visibly cleaner when suspended upside down, especially after repeated use. The toothbrush head and handle also appear to contain significantly less numbers of bacteria after being suspended upside down, based on testing using a microorganism test kit after repeated use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

Attached are drawings of the loop design. The dashed lines represent a standard toothbrush. The toothbrush is the standard item in which the loop design is embodied and does not constitute part of the claimed loop design. There is also a box showing a close-up view of the loop design.

FIG. 1 shows the loop design wherein the loop is embedded in the toothbrush handle.

FIG. 2 shows the loop design where there is an opening inserted in the toothbrush handle through which the loop material is run and the ends joined together to create the loop.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The toothbrush handle loop consists of a loop inserted in the handle of a toothbrush. The loop is used to hang or suspend the toothbrush upside down in the open air (i.e. with the toothbrush head at the lowest point and perpendicular to the ground) from any location with a protrusion suitably sized to fit within the loop. For example, the toothbrush can be hung from a wall peg, or a specially-designed toothbrush holder manufactured to accommodate the loop which might hang on the wall or from a vanity-top stand in the bathroom. The toothbrush can also be hung from a tree branch while camping, or any other suitable location specific to the environment. Hotels can incorporate either a wall peg or a countertop stand in their bathroom design. A hotel guest would hang his toothbrush with the loop over a drip collection tray, and housekeeping would clean the drip tray underneath as part of the room cleaning process, providing a clean environment for guests to store their toothbrush.

The loop can be constructed of any material (string, nylon, synthetic resin or plastic, metal links, etc.), and can vary in color and texture for purposes of appearance. The loop can be manufactured in any size which is suitable to hang the toothbrush from varying sizes of supports. The loop can have a separating clasp or knot allowing the loop to be temporarily opened for purposes of attaching additional items to the loop for user identification purposes (name tag, color coding, etc.), or for purposes of temporarily opening the loop to allow the user to hang the toothbrush from a specific item (e.g. hook or rack in a hotel room).

Generally toothbrush handles are molded out of melted plastic. The melted plastic is injected into a mold, and the plastic hardens when it cools.

The loop can be inserted in the toothbrush handle using one of two methods during manufacturing. First, the loop can be inserted in the toothbrush handle while the handle is being molded. FIG. 1 shows the loop design wherein the loop is embedded in the toothbrush handle.

Alternatively, a small hole can be left in the handle of the toothbrush while it is being molded, and the loop can be strung through the hole after the handle is manufactured. The ends of the loop can be closed permanently, or a knot or a clasp can be used to allow the loop to be opened or closed at will.

The toothbrush handle loop will provide the following benefits:

-   -   By hanging perpendicular to the ground in the open air with the         toothbrush head hanging downward (as opposed to leaning at an         angle in a cup with the toothbrush head facing up), the         contaminated water will drain faster from the toothbrush head,         and the toothbrush head will dry faster. Additionally, the dirty         water will drain downward directly from the head to the area         underneath, as opposed to flowing from the head to the handle         and drying halfway down the handle. When the user rinses the         toothbrush head before his or her next use, more of the bacteria         will be washed away as opposed to being stuck all along the         handle. This will be conducive to a reduction in the number of         bacteria which are dependent on moisture, food particles, etc.         to survive. A tray, bowl, or some other collector for the drain         off from the toothbrush can be placed under the toothbrush. Such         an item can be manufactured to be dishwasher safe for easy         cleaning.     -   By hanging upside down, the toothbrush head can also be lowered         into a cup of antibacterial solution for storage (e.g.         antiseptic mouthwash), which is also proven to reduce the amount         of bacteria.     -   By hanging upside down, the toothbrush can be isolated and kept         from contact with other toothbrushes and their contaminants.     -   The loop can be used to attached name tags or other identifying         items such as colored beads, etc., which will help avoid         infection by mistakenly using another user's toothbrush. The         loop can have a knot or clasp allowing these items to be         attached after purchase of a toothbrush with a loop.     -   A hanging system for toothbrushes with the loop can be provided         in areas away from the home such as hotels. For example, a hotel         can install hooks or pegs in the bathroom wall in each room, or         provide a standalone storage device, with collection trays for         the runoff from the toothbrush underneath. A traveler can hang         his toothbrush upon checking into his room, and housekeeping can         clean the drip tray as part of the room cleaning process,         providing a sanitary storage area for the toothbrush. 

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 1) A loop as a support system for suspending a toothbrush from any suitable protrusion, consisting of a loop of any size and manufactured of any material, which is attached to the handle of a toothbrush; 2) The loop as defined in claim (1), whether embedded in the handle of the toothbrush during the manufacturing process, or inserted later through a hole in the handle of the toothbrush created during the handle manufacturing process; 3) The loop as defined in claim (1), whether a continuous loop, or a loop joined by a knot or a clasp allowing it to separate and be re-joined; 4) The loop as a support system for personalized user identification or ornamentation materials; 5) The loop as defined in claim (4), whether embedded in the handle of the toothbrush during the manufacturing process, or inserted later through a hole in the handle of the toothbrush created during the handle manufacturing process; and 6) The loop as defined in claim (4), whether a continuous loop, or a loop joined by a knot or a clasp allowing it to separate and be re-joined. 